schmidt



2 Sheets-Sheetl (No Model.)

H. SCHMIDT. CAR PLATFORM AND STEP.

Patented July 6, 1897.

25 26/NVENTOR WITNESSES A tlon zgy m: norms PETERS co. PHDTO-UTNO.wAsnmumum. c.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

H. SCHMIDT.

GAR PLATFORM AND STEP.

No. 585,793. Patented July 6,1897.

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UNITED STATES PATENT EETcE.

HERMAN SCHMIDT, OF BROOKLYN, NEIV YORK, ASSIGNOR OF ONF-HALF TO WILLIAMG. ST. GEORGE, OF SAME PLACE.

CAR PLATFORM AND STEP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 585,793, dated July 6,1897.

Application filed January 9 1897. Serial No- 618,565. (No model.)

.To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HERMAN Sornvnnzr, a citizen of the United States,residing at Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Car Platforms and Steps;and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention has reference to a novel construction in a car platformand steps, the object being to provide a construction whereby the stepswhen not in use can be elevated to fill out the space in the platformcut away above the same, and to provide means for accomplishing theabove object in an efficient and durable manner.

The invention consists in the features of construction hereinafter fullydescribed and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification,Figure l is a side elevation of a car-platform provided with thisimprovement. Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is avertical transverse section with the steps raised. Fig. .4 is a topplan. Fig. 5 is a bottom View with certain parts omitted for convenienceof illustration.

Referring now to said drawings, 1 indicates the platform of a car ofordinary construction, and is provided at its end with a cross-beam 2 inthe usual manner. To the outer end of the cross-beam 2 is a post 3, andfrom the post 3 and extending toward the center of the platform is arailing 4. Upon the post 3 is a hinged gate 5, that is adapted to springoutwardly and between the post and the end of the body 6 of the car andagainst an upright stop 7 thereon. The said gate 5 is turned upon itshinges by means of a pivoted lever 8, that is pivoted upon thecross-beam 2, and it also serves to elevate and depress the steps. Theconnection between the gate 5 and the lever 8 consists of an uprightlever 9, that is pivoted upon the railing 4i and is pivoted at its lowerend to the projection 10 upon said operating-lever 8, and at its upperend is connected with the gate 5 by means of a connecting-rod 11. p

In accordance with the principle involved by this invention the stepsare so constructed that when thrown to one position they form a flatsurface that fills in the space between the cross-beam 2 and the end ofthe car, so that the platform extends across the entire end of the car.These steps are three in number, although it is understood that thenumber can be increased or diminished, as found convenient. Upon thelower face of the platform is pivoted a frame 12. The said frameconsists of two side pieces 13, joined together at their rear ends andpivoted to suitable brackets on the bottom of the platform. These sidepieces extend outwardly a sufficient distance to have their outer endsabout even with the outer end of the cross-beam 2 when the frame iselevated, and said frame is elevated by means of the operating-lever 8.This operating'lever projects below the beam 2 and is connected by meansof a link 14 with a lug 15 upon one of the side pieces 13 of said frame.

It is seen from the foregoing description that when the lever is thrownto elevate the frame it also closes the gate against the stop 7, andvice versa. l/Vhen the frame is down or in a downwardlyinclinedposition, the steps are formed and consequently the gate is open. Theparts are so arranged that when the frame is elevated the steps moveinto alinement with each other to form a fiat surface, and when theframe is at the upper limit of its movement these steps extending inalinement with each other are flush with the platform 1.

For holding the steps in an elevated position I employ two latches 16 onopposite sides of the opening in the platform of the car. These latchesare pivoted to swing into and out of the path of the side pieces of theframe and are connected by means of rods 17 and bell-crank levers 18with a foot-piece l9,which is mounted upon a short shaft connected withone of said bell-cranks. In this way it is seen that the latches can bemoved into or out of the path of the side pieces of the frame to holdsaid frame elevated or to allow it to drop.

I will now proceed to describe the construction of the steps and thedevices for operating the same.

The steps 20 are pivoted between the side pieces 13 and are providedwith beveled edges 21, that come in contact with the upper face of theside pieces when the steps are in ahorizontal position, and thus act asstops to limit the movement of said steps. hen the frame is elevated,the said steps turn upon their pivots by gravity and fall flat upon theside pieces, so their upper faces are in alinement. For moving saidsteps, however, upon the pivots I employ projections that are situatedin the path of the steps that strike them and turn them upon the pivots.The upper step is moved by a hanger 22, that is fastened upon theplatform 1 and projects downwardly and outwardly. This hanger 22 issituated so that when the stop 21 upon the upper step 20 is inengagement with the upper face of the side pieces the said upper step isresting flat upon the hanger. The lower steps are moved into the correctposition, with their stops 21 against the side pieces, by means of theblocks 23, carried by a pivoted arm 24. This pivoted arm 24: is fastenedto the side pieces 13 and to the lower step 25. The said lower step 25is suspended from two rods 26, that are pivoted at their upper ends tothe outer end of the cross-beam 2 and to the forward end portion of thecar. The said lower step is firmly secured to the rods 26 in the mannershown. I

In use when the steps are elevated they stand in the position shown inFigs. 3 and 4: of the drawingsthat is to say, with the gate closed andwith the frame elevated and held by the catches 16. The rods 26 andlower step 25 are also thrown inwardly, as shown. To let down the stepsand open the gate, the operator first moves the foot-piece 19 to retractthe catches, and then by moving the operating-lever 8 outwardly the gate5 is swung upon its hinge, while at the same time the frame 12 isdropped, while the arms 26 swing downwardly and outwardly and thus drawthe blocks 23 into the path of the two lower steps of the frame. As theparts move to this position the upper {step 20 comes in contact with thehanger 22 and the two lower steps 20 come in contact with the blocks 23,which bring these steps to a horizontal position with their stops inengagement with the side pieces. When the parts arrive at this position,the lower step 25 is also in horizontal position, and the ends of theside pieces 13 are arranged to come in contact with the upper face ofthe lower step and thuslimit the downward movement of the differentparts.

It is seen from the foregoing description that I provide a simple andeffective means for operating the steps in connection with a device ofthis kind, and, furthermore, provide a platform that is furnished withsteps, but which when not in use can be so utilized that the entire endof the car is furnished with a platform, as shown and described.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination with a car-platform, of a pivoted frame carrying aplurality of pivoted steps, a gate u pon said platform swinging in aplane different from that in whichsaid fram e'and steps swing, devicesfor swinging said frame upon its pivot and for moving said steps upontheir pivots and for opening and closing said gate.

2. The combination with a car-platform, of a pivoted frame, devices forelevating and depressing said frame, a plurality of pivoted stepscarried by said frame, devices for turning said steps upon theirpivots,and a lower step carried by pivoted rods and situated in the path of thelower ends of the sides of said frame.

3. In a device of the kind specified, a pivoted frame provided with aplurality of pivoted steps, devices for elevating and depressing saidframe, and a rigid hanger or block and a plurality of movable hangers orblocks situated in the path of said steps for moving the same upon theirpivots and into a horizontal position.

4. In a device of the character described a pivoted frame provided witha plurality of pivoted steps, said steps being provided with bevelededges forming stops to engage the side pieces of said frame, and devicesfor moving said frame and said steps upon their pivots.

5. In adevice of thekind specified,apivoted frame provided with pivotedsteps, a depending pivoted frame having an arm pivoted to saidfirst-mentioned frame, said frame being provided with blocks situated inthe path of said steps.

6. In a device of the character specified, a pivoted frame provided witha plurality of pivoted steps, depending pivoted rods provided at theirlower ends with the lower step, and an arm pivoted to said frame and tosaid lower step and provided with blocks situated in the path of saidpivoted steps.

7. In a device of the character specified, a pivoted frame havingpivoted steps, an operating-lever connected with said frame forelevating and depressingthe same, and a pivoted gate connected with saidlever by devices to cause said gate to turn upon its pivot as said leveris reciprocated.

8. The combination with a car-platform having a pivoted frame carryingpivoted steps and devices for operating the same, of catches pivoted onopposite sides of the opening in said platform and in the path of saidpieces of said frame, said catches being connected with each other andwith a common operating foot-piece.

In testimonywhereof I have signed this HERMAN scrnumr.

Witnesses:

R. J. SLANDORFF, H. C. PARRISH.

